The Art of luxury wine collecting

Not only does fine wine collecting allow you to experience some of the finest and most exclusive wines in the world, it can also be a sound investment if approached with knowledge and care

- Shannon Manuel

IS MORE HIGH-END WINE COLLECTING THAN A MERE HOBBY - IT'S AN ART FORM. Collecting rare and fine wines allows enthusiasts to appreciate the craftsmanship and expertise that goes into producing exceptional vintages.

Wine collecting has long been associated with sophistication, refinement, and luxury. Savvy collectors carefully curate their cellars, seeking out rare vintages, limited editions, and highly sought-after labels. Building a comprehensive collection requires a discerning palate, an extensive knowledge of winemaking regions, and a good understanding of evolving trends in the wine market.

We spoke to Wine Cellar Fine Wine Merchants, one of SA's premier wine sellers, on what you need to know when starting your own fine wine collection.

When buying wines

"There are differences between buying fine wines for a collection and simply buying wines to drink,' says CEO James Pietersen. 'Your strategy for collecting takes into consideration producers that you follow, (building a vertical of a certain wine) these will be wines that can mature, offering future pleasure and securing wine of scarcity that will sell out on release while only being ready to enjoy in the future. Buying wines that will increase in value over a 5-to-20-year period offers a return that can assist in replenishing your cellar.

'Key considerations when purchasing wines for investment purposes are price, vintage, brand equity, critic scores and scarcity,' says Lauren Segers, Local Buyer & Fine Wine Sales. "There are some incredible South African wines from the 20th century, as each decade pushed wine quality and increased the size of the local fine wine market. Where good bottles can be found, vintage wines offer a snapshot of the Cape's potential.